Sen. Charlane Oliver

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Tennessee's child care law to explicitly include nieces and nephews of whole or half blood as legally related to a primary caregiver. Previously, the law did not clearly cover these blood-related relatives under the definition of "related" for child care licensing purposes. The change allows caregivers (such as grandparents or aunts/uncles) to legally care for these specific relatives under existing child care regulations without needing additional licensing. It directly affects families where a primary caregiver is responsible for a niece or nephew sharing blood ties.

Maddy summarySB 204, the "Tennessee Homebuyer Harassment Prevention Act," limits real estate developers, businesses, or their representatives to contacting property owners **only once per calendar year** with unsolicited offers to buy their property. It requires these contacts to include the sender’s legal name, address, phone number, and email - applying to phone calls, texts, emails, or mail. Property owners can file complaints with the Attorney General’s office, which will investigate and may impose fines up to $2,000 per violation. The law excludes licensed real estate agents and government agencies from these restrictions.

Maddy summarySJR 186 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Tennessee General Assembly to honor Shugga Hi Bakery and Café for its contributions to the Nashville community since 2017. It recognizes the bakery’s founding by sisters Sandra Austin and Kathy Leslie, its role in revitalizing the Dickerson Pike corridor, and its community initiatives like pandemic-era meal distributions. The resolution expresses appreciation for the establishment’s popular menu (notably its chicken and waffles) and its commitment to serving diverse customers. Signed by the Governor on March 13, 2025, it serves as a formal gesture of recognition with no binding policy impact.

Maddy summarySJR 163 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the Haynes Park Neighborhood Association for its 20th anniversary. It recognizes the association's work promoting community safety, environmental beautification, resident communication, and crime prevention in the Haynes Park neighborhood. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it simply expresses legislative appreciation through formal commendation. It was signed by the Governor on March 13, 2025, completing the ceremonial process.

Maddy summarySJR 187 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Silver Sands Café for over 50 years of service to Nashville. It recognizes the restaurant’s family-owned legacy, signature Southern cuisine, and community impact without creating new laws or affecting any policies. The resolution was formally adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor on March 13, 2025. This is purely a symbolic gesture of appreciation, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySJR 166 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the East Nashville High School girls' track and field team for winning the 2024 TSSAA Class A state championship. It recognizes their fifth state title in ten years, their record of competing with just seven athletes, and their role as ambassadors for Tennessee. The resolution formally congratulates the team, coaches, and community without creating any new laws or funding. This is a symbolic gesture, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySJR 165 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the Jefferson Street Historical Society (JSHS), a Nashville nonprofit founded in 2023. It formally commends JSHS for preserving Jefferson Street - a historic Black-owned business corridor known as "Nashville's Black Wall Street" - and its cultural heritage. The resolution has no policy impact; it solely offers symbolic recognition of the society’s community work, including revitalization efforts and preserving the street’s musical history. This is a standard commemorative resolution, not a law with concrete policy changes.

Maddy summarySJR 164 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the Rho Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., on the 95th anniversary of its founding at Tennessee State University (1930). It commemorates the chapter's history, including its role as the first Greek-letter organization on campus, its development of the fraternity's "Hop" tradition, and its community service initiatives like Project Rho Psi, which established a perpetual giving monument. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it solely honors the chapter's contributions through formal recognition.

Maddy summarySJR 162 is a Tennessee legislative resolution honoring the memory of Dr. Charles Edward Dudley, Sr., a civil rights activist and Seventh-day Adventist minister who dedicated his life to racial justice and community leadership. The resolution recognizes his 31-year presidency of the South Central Conference (1962-1993), during which he grew church membership from 4,300 to 23,000, built 100+ church and school facilities, and secured federal housing support for underprivileged communities. It commemorates his advocacy for racial equality during the Civil Rights Movement and his role in expanding educational opportunities, including tripling Oakwood College's enrollment. As a non-binding commemorative resolution, it does not impose legal requirements or affect any group.

Maddy summarySJR 161 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Mary's Old Fashioned Pit Bar-B-Que for its 63 years of service to North Nashville, from its 1962 founding until its closure on February 1, 2025. It formally recognizes the restaurant's legacy, its owner Katresa Fizer (granddaughter of founder Mary), and its role in the community, including surviving tornadoes and the pandemic. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely symbolic recognition, passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by the Governor on March 13, 2025. It directly affects the business's legacy, its owner, and the North Nashville community it served.